Dakshin Gangotri
Dakshin Gangotri Station | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of the station | |
| Coordinates: 70°04′27″S 12°00′12″E / 70.0742°S 12.0034°E | |
| Region | Queen Maud Land |
| Location | Near Dakshin Gangotri Glacier |
| Established | 26 January 1984 |
| Abandoned | 25 February 1990 |
| Named after | Gangotri Glacier |
| Government | |
| • Type | Administration |
| • Body | NCPOR, India |
| Active times | All year-round |
| Website | ncpor |
Dakshin Gangotri was the first scientific base station of India situated in Antarctica, part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. It is located at a distance of 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) from the South Pole. It is currently being used as a supply base and transit camp. The base is named after Dakshin Gangotri Glacier.
It was established during the third Indian expedition to Antarctica in 1983–84. This was the first time an Indian team spent a winter in Antarctica to carry out scientific works. The station was built in eight weeks by an 81-member team that included geologist Sudipta Sengupta. Construction was completed late into January 1984 with help from the Indian army and Indian Republic Day was celebrated at the station along with the Soviets and East Germans.